For 1998, the Acura 3.5RL features suspension revisions that provide more sporty handling while still maintaining the smooth, compliant ride that is the signature of this highly-refined luxury performance automobile.
"The 3.5RL continues as our top-of-the-line flagship sedan and sets the standard for Acura luxury and refinement," said Rich Thomas, Acura's executive vice president and general manager. "The RL embodies everything we've learned about engineering great luxury performance automobiles over the past eleven years."
Powered by a 3.5-liter, V-6 engine that produces the most torque ever by any Acura sedan, the 3.5RL does not require a scheduled tune-up for the first 100,000 miles. The all-aluminum engine is designed to respond instantly, resulting in quick acceleration and effortless cruising.
The flagship sedan carries Acura's computer-controlled, 4-speed automatic transmission, which features Grade Logic Control for smoother, more responsive performance driving uphill or downhill.
The exterior styling of the RL reveals a prominent grille and strong, sculpted contours along the body, which yield a clean, aerodynamic line. The sleek, integrated front bumper gives the 3.5RL an elegant, uncluttered look and helps smooth aerodynamic flow for enhanced fuel efficiency. New for 1998, the RL features a distinctive alloy wheel design with a bright, machined-finish.
Inside the RL, drivers find numerous amenities including heated seats, a raised center storage console, pre-wiring for a cellular phone and the 225-watt, eight-speaker Acura/Bose® audio system, which is now a standard features on all 3.5RLs for 1998. The interior's roomy design showcases more standard features including plush, leather-trimmed seats and a high capacity climate control and air-filtration system, which eliminates most particles of bacteria, pollen and smoke.
Acura engineers have added a three-point safety belt for the center rear seating position. Other advanced safety features include dual air bags, front seat belt tensioners, dual front-door anti intrusion beams, front-door hip and shoulder pads and side impact head protection.
Available as an option on the 3.5RL is the Acura Navigation System, an innovative, first-of-its-kind in-dash system, which uses a combination of the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, electro-gyros and sophisticated state-of-the-art software to map out the best route to a destination and to tell drivers their exact location at all times. The Navigation System features a 6-inch color LCD touch-screen mounted high in the center dashboard of the 3.5RL, within easy reach of the driver and the front-seat passenger. Mapping currently is available for the East Coast, California and Las Vegas. The Navigation System availability is being expanded in 1998 to a number of markets in the Midwest.
Like all Acura models, the 3.5RL is covered by a comprehensive 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty. Additional ownership benefits include Acura Total Luxury Care (TLC) customer satisfaction program which provides free 24-hour roadside assistance, concierge service and trip routing.